Nikola Jokic · What a storybook season it was for two-time Denver Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokić. The Joker was the driving force behind Denver’s first championship, setting career-highs in field-goal percentage and assists per game while averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists across 69 games. His 29 regular season triple-doubles were 15 more than anyone else, and he posted 10 more in 20 playoff games where he again nearly averaged a triple-double. He now has 105 career regular season triple-doubles and another 16 in the postseason, already ranking him in the top-six all-time in both categories. The 2022-23 season marked Jokić’s fifth straight year on an All-NBA team — two on the Second Team and three on the First. While he fell just short of a third straight MVP award — finishing runner-up to Joel Embiid — Jokić made up for it by being named MVP of both the Western Conference and NBA Finals. During the regular season Jokić became the first player since 1968 to post a 35-point, 25-rebound, 10-assist game, as well as the third in NBA history to record a 40-15-15 game. In his eighth season, Jokić passed Alex English as Denver’s franchise leader in assists and also became the first player in NBA history to lead a postseason in total points, rebounds and assists. · State of Mint · State of Mint